The lugubrious character actor began his career in fringe theatre in Ireland and England. In 1980, with playwright Brian Friel (Dancing at Lughnasa) Rae formed Field Day to perform works relevant to the political drama unfolding in Ireland. His film career took off with his Oscar-nominated performance in Neil Jordan's The Crying Game, a movie that owed much of its success to a shock ending. He has had supporting roles in almost all Jordan's subsequent films, including Interview With the Vampire (1994), Michael Collins (1996), The Butcher Boy (1997), and The End of the Affair (1999). Other credits include Mike Leigh's Life Is Sweet (1991), Robert Altman's Ready to Wear (Prêt-à-Porter ) (1994), and Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994).